Flood alert placed on 120 areas across UK

Flood alerts have been placed on more than 120 areas as heavy rain batters Warrenpoint,Co Down (Picture: PA)

More than 120 areas across the UK are on flood alert this morning with heavy rain set to fall throughout the weekend.

Coastal flooding in Scotland has already seen people evacuated from their homes, including residents of sheltered housing. High tides and severe weather led to 25 people being taken from complexes at Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire.

The Environment Agency increased the number of areas at risk overnight.

The South West was the worst affected, while 128 areas across the South East, Midlands, central and northern England, Wales and southern and central Scotland are also on alert.

Another 15 areas across the west, as well as in Northampton and Warrington, are expected to flood.

Tom Tombler, meteorologist for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said people should expect 10mm and 20mm in the worst-hit areas. Plymouth saw 29mm of rain yesterday, while Culdrose in west Cornwall saw 21mm in 18 hours.

‘The heavy rain will affect mostly the western parts of the UK and southern England as well as Wales,’ he said.